UFC: The Future vs The Nightmare - last minute clash at Kansas City

Kansas City has been taken by storm as there is a new short notice UFC Fight Night main event in town on April 26.

With Jamahal Hill now out of his light heavyweight main event against Khalil Rountree Jr. due to injury, the UFC were in a desperate search of a main event for this already anticipated event.

By chance 'Hands of Steel' Geoff Neal pulled out of his bout against Carlos Prates at UFC 314, also due to injury. So, it only made sense for 'The Nightmare' to step up as the new main event and, of course, he did not hesitate to do so.

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Looking for an opponent for the welterweight main event proved no difficult task for Prates and the UFC, as the always game 'The Future' Ian Machado Garry stepped up and signed the contract in no time.

This is two fights in a row Machado Garry has accepted on short notice against two of the welterweight division's top prospects. There is no denying Garry's toughness. Both men are young up-and-comers, climbing their way through the welterweight rankings, searching for that Championship fight. 

What does this fight mean for Ian Machado Garry? 

Garry sees this fight as an opportunity to bounce back from his last defeat and wants to show the world how good he is once again.

He recently stated: “I’m excited. Why? The UFC goes, ‘Ah, we need someone. Who do we need? Who do we call?’ You call me. Why? Because I’m a real fighter who wants to fight the best in the world.

"I’m going to show everybody how good I am. Carlos Prates is awesome, but this is my world. I love to fight. There is nothing in this world I love more than fighting.”  

Hailing from County Dublin, Republic of Ireland, the 27-year-old Ian Machado Garry (15-1) suffered his first defeat in his last bout back in at UFC 310 in December last year by unanimous decision. Again he was fighting on short notice, facing the also undefeated at the time number one contender Shavkat Rakhmonov.

Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Despite this defeat, Garry brought the fight to Rakhmanov, winning multiple rounds and nearly sinking in a rear naked choke in the final round. He became the first man to take Shavkat to a decision.

Demonstrating high level grappling and incredible toughness, Garry most definitely won a lot of new fans that night despite ultimately being defeated.  

The Dublin native began his background in striking, boxing from age 10 and transitioning to MMA after forming an interest in it due to looking up to fellow Irishman Conor McGregor.

In 2023, Garry made a move to Brazil and began training at Chute Boxe Diego Lima with UFC lightweight legend Charles "Do Bronx" Oliveira.

Since this move Garry has changed up his style, showcasing impressive grappling in his victory against Michael 'Venom' Page, completing him as a Mixed Martial Artist. 

Will he be able to implement this same style of grappling on Carlos Prates? 

What about Carlos Prates, what does this fight mean for him? 

However, there is no easy test in front of Machado Garry, 'The Nightmare' Carlos Prates, 31, has built quite the reputation for himself as a wrecking machine.

Boasting 16 knockouts in 21 victories, hailing from Sao Paulo, Brazil, Prates is a problem for everyone in the welterweight division.

The last time we saw Prates out in the octagon was another Fight Night main event in November against Neil Magny, where he viciously knocked Magny unconscious in the first round, boosting him into the top 15.

His opponent is ranked 7th, so a victory over Machado Garry would put Prates into the top 10 and a step closer to a shot at gold in the welterweight championship. 

Currently undefeated in the UFC and on a four fight win streak, will this superb form continue or come to an end on April 27? 

Like Machado Garry, Prates comes from a striking background also, but more specifically traditional Muay Thai, holding a Muay Thai record of an impressive 28-5.

He is known for having a clubbing right hand, which he uses to finish fights in brutal fashion.

Uniquely, outside of the octagon, Prates actually enjoys smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol, which is quite unusual for Mixed Martial Artists and athletes in general, stating he smokes 8-10 cigarettes per day, sometimes even 10-15.

Fighting out of The Fighting Nerds gym his teammates have also built big names for themselves in the past year, with their gym winning "Gym of the Year" at the World MMA awards. 

In a confident interview with Ariel Helwani, Prates stated: "When I saw Ian Garry the first time, his first fights in the UFC, I said 'Ah that guy is really good, he's probably gonna be a champ', and now I come to his way and change my opinion a little bit."

"Two years ago I saw that guy, and now I am fighting him." 

Who's next for the winner of this fight? 

As we know with the current number two contender Shavkat Rakhmonov withdrawing from his shot at the championship against the welterweight champion Belal Muhammed, Australia's Jack Della Maddalena has jumped the line and will be fighting Belal in May for the shot.

So, does this mean the winner of this fight gets Shavkat in the meantime?

It is unlikely either will jump the gun to a title fight just yet. So, a rematch between Machado Gary and Rakhmonov, or Prates vs Rakhmonov could be on the cards. Or could it be against other rising contenders on hot winning streaks, such as Sean Brady and Joaquin Buckley. 

Stay tuned for a potential striking master class on April 26. 

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